Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has made an honest admission on his player Arthur Sales, who’s been in fine form recently.
The Brazilian attacker, Sales, joined Masandawana at the beginning of the season from the Belgian Challenger Pro League side Lommel SK.
He endured significant criticism during his early days in South Africa due to his struggles at the start of the campaign. But Sales has since improved remarkably under Cardoso, who arrived in the midseason, replacing Manqoba Mngqithi.
The attacker has registered nine goals and ten assists in 36 appearances in all competitions.
Sales bagged a brace in the Betway Premiership title-winning match, where Bafana Ba Style triumphed 3-0 against Chippa United at Buffalo City Stadium on Wednesday to clinch their eighth straight league title.
Cardoso has revealed that there were times he wasn’t pleased with Sales, specifically citing dissatisfaction with how the player was training.
CARDOSO ON HOW SALES PROVED HIM WRONG
“When I arrived, he was coming from an injury and another thing, playing in South Africa and in [Belgium] is not the same,” said Cardoso on SNAWA on Metro FM.
“There are a lot of things that the players need to adapt to. And also, the way he is, we also need to understand him.
- Miguel Cardoso – Picture courtesy of Mamelodi Sundowns
“Believe me, in the beginning, I said, ‘This guy, I don’t like him, I don’t like the way he trains’. But I kept loving him, I had to believe in him, I have to believe in my players. When I say, ‘I don’t like you’, it’s a temporary thing. I mean, I don’t like what you’re doing at the moment.”
Cardoso explained that the positional change, moving Sales from the central striker role to the wing, has been beneficial, allowing the player to perform at his best.
SUNDOWNS COACH ON SALES – ‘WE HAVE A WONDERFUL TOOL IN HIM’
“I also perceived him as a number nine at first, but what’s interesting is that we see a Sales that is aggressive without the ball, pressing and running everywhere,” added Cardoso.
“We had to understand what kind of behaviour we want from him on the pitch and how to build the team, not around him but complement him more.
“And I think in the moment, we’re having a wonderful tool in him.”
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